Altar Servers Training
Altar Servers training is provided by the Parish, under the stewardship of Fr. Eugene Mattioli, on every 2nd Saturday of the month from 09:30 am to 12:30 pm in the Parish Hall.
Definition of an Altar Server
An altar server is a lay assistant to the priest during the mass or other members of the clergy in other religious functions, including Benediction and Eucharistic Adoration. At a very important time in Jesus’ life, He accepted the services of a young boy. This young boy provided five loaves and two fish for that very momentous miracle with which Jesus launched his teaching on the Holy Eucharist. The Sacred Writers do not tell us the name of the young boy, only his deed and his act of service. Altar servers also perform a great deed of service. In past centuries, only priests or those ordained to the office of Acolyte were allowed beyond the Communion rail to assist in the worship of God. As it became more necessary for men to work steady hours to fulfil their duties as fathers and breadwinners, young men were called to serve in war time and boys were taught to take on the responsibilities of assisting the priests in their service of God.
Female Altar Servers
In 1970 the Vatican condemned female altar serving in Liturgicae instaurationes as well as in the 1980s Inaestimabile donum. Not until a circular letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to presidents of Episcopal Conferences on March 15, 1994, did the Vatican officially allow female altar serving.
Graces
To serve at the altar as an Altar Server is one of the greatest sources of graces. Undoubtedly, Altar Servers receive countless blessings from Almighty God from serving devoutly at Mass. Attending Holy Mass is a source of numerous graces. It is certainly more grace-filled for Altar Servers.
Patron Saints of Altar Servers
- Saint John Berchmans
- Saint Dominic Savio
- Saint Don Bosco
Qualities of An Altar Server
- Be of superior character, pure of heart and soul. He or she should have a special love for Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and should show this love in a practical way by receiving our Lord frequently in Holy Communion.
- Secondly, an Altar Server must be able to learn their prayers and be able to recite them from memory. He or she must know and understand the movements around the altar and perform these actions without any hesitation.
- An Altar Server must be trustworthy and reliable. When a server is, for example, scheduled to serve Mass, he or she must be on time. An Altar Server remembers what our Lord sacrificed for him (and indeed all of us), and any sacrifice he may be required to make is small in comparison. “Be on time” is a central rule for any true Altar Server.
- An Altar Server should always present themselves in a neat and clean appearance when performing his/her duties. They should never come to serve the Mass casually dressed with overly styled, dyed or uncombed hair. No true Altar Server would appear before his Lord in disarray. An Altar Server is extremely careful of his/her appearance when he/she comes into the presence of the Lord of Lords.
Parental Support
The parents’ role is key in supporting their young child in this Ministry. The above mentioned qualities, point to the reverence with which the Catholic Church approaches Altar Service. Your child(ren) are still young and are growing in knowledge and love for our Lord Jesus, and to be able to guide them through this journey of faith by giving them the opportunity to serve the Mass through this Ministry is a beautiful thing – it is also a privilege.
The list of qualities above is by no means exhaustive; however, it is important to note that these are not qualities that apply only to Altar Servers, but indeed to every Christian in their daily life. Altar Service demands of these qualities, which many former Altar Servers carry on for life.
The list of qualities above is by no means exhaustive; however, it is important to note that these are not qualities that apply only to Altar Servers, but indeed to every Christian in their daily life. Altar Service demands of these qualities, which many former Altar Servers carry on for life.